Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/15

 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION II Saturday MADISON July 14 the Govt. as they have done in Congs. This very measure is here prosecuted by a minority of the people of America. Is then the object of the Convention likely to be accomplished in this way? Will not our Constituents say? we sent you to form an efficient Govt and you have given us one more com- plex indeed, but having all the weakness of the former Governt. He was anxious for uniting all the States under one Governt. He knew there were some respectable men who preferred three confederacies, united by offensive & defensive alliances. Many things may be plausibly said, some things may be justly said, in favor of such a project. He could not however con- cur in it himself; but he thought nothing so pernicious as bad first principles. Mr. Elseworth asked two questions one of Mr. Wilson, whether he had ever seen a good measure fail in Congs. for want of a majority of States in its favor? He had himself never known such an instance: the other of Mr. (Madison) whether a negative lodged with a majority of the States even the smallest, could be more dangerous than the qualified negative proposed to be lodged in a single Executive Magis- trate, who must be taken from some one State? Mr. Sherman, signified that his expectation was that the Genl. Legislature would in some cases act on the federal prin- ciple, of requiring quotas. But he thought it ought to be empowered to carry their own plans into execution if the States should fail to supply' their respective quotas. On the question for agreeing to Mr Pinkney's motion for allowing N.H. 2. Mss. 4. &c- (it passed in the negative) Mas. no. Mr. King ay. Mr. Ghorum absent. Cont. no. N.J. no. Pa. ay. Del. no. Md. ay. Va. ay. N. C. no. S.C. ay Geo. no. [Ayes--4; noes-- 6.] Adjourned,

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